We Deliver
Staff to child ratio of 1:8
25 children daily, maximum
Attend from 5 days a fortnight up to 5 days a week
Parents welcome to participate in daily activities
9am-3pm Monday to Friday
Inspiring indoor & outdoors spaces
Currambena provides a nurturing, holistic starting point to your child’s learning journey
We prioritise nurturing the whole child at this malleable, important early age, through a balanced approach that emphasises nature and play, and cultivates the social, physical, academic and emotional aspects of development.
Our small group sizes allow children to build relationships with their peers and teachers, and our integration into Currambena Primary means children develop confidence in interacting with people of all ages, and transition easily into primary school.
Focus on Independance and Interest-Based Learning
Currambena is a highly-regarded Sydney preschool with highly experienced staff who focus on child-led exploration and encourage children to explore and learn in a play-based, community setting.
Currambena's Educational Philosophy
Currambena Primary School and Preschool share the same unique values and approach—emphasising child-led, play-based learning, democratic principles, global citizenship, social, emotional and communication skills AND conflict resolution skills. Learn more about what makes Currambena unique..
Key Features of a Typical Week in Preschool at Currambena
Play is a top priority at Currambena Preschool!
Children enjoy daily play-based activities in small groups across a wide choice of activities—from finger painting to mud-sculpting, cooking to drawing and art to numbers or reading!
They have access to the whole playground—an inspiring, fun site where they can happily play, adventure and explore—and are always supervised by both Preschool and Primary School staff.
They can also visit the library upstairs to borrow books that spark their curiosity—and return them under an honour system.
As a result, children LOVE to come to Preschool.
Children at Currambena are encouraged to eat when they are hungry and rest when tired —so there is no set morning tea or lunchtime.
Our warm, attentive staff members prompt children to remember to eat and drink during the day. (Parents must provide their children with morning tea and lunch.)
We also offer Canteen on Mondays—shared with the Primary School—so you won’t need to provide food if your child is in attendance on that day. Canteen is a wonderful change for vertical interaction!
This child-led approach helps them to listen to their body, honour their needs, and develop self-awareness and self-understanding from a young age.
As a Democratic School, we involve children in making agreements around their play and behaviour, rather than forcing them to adhere to rigid school rules.
At each of these meetings, children are gently guided through age-appropriate conflict resolution strategies—encouraging them to speak up, share their thoughts, act respectfully towards others, and get their needs met.
This approach plants the seeds for developing a sense of responsibility from a young age, and instils in them that they are valued and contributing members of the Currambena community.
Preschool children can attend a buddies session once a week with the oldest Currambena Primary School class—year 5-6.
This encourages interaction with people of different age groups, instilling self-confidence in younger ones.
Each child at Currambena has their very own journal, in which staff members document observations, anecdotes, photos, and the child’s work. Parents are also welcome to borrow and contribute to their child’s journal in the same way.
These journals mean you always know how your child is getting on—and what they’re getting up to!
Currambena lays the foundations for life at a young age—helping preschool children flourish, wonder, explore and gain confidence.
See what we’ve been to lately:
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What Currambena Parents Say
To any parent whose child has struggled in traditional school environments or is currently navigating the heartbreak of “school can’t”- Curambena is a sanctuary .
Our daughter’s journey before finding this school was incredibly difficult in the public school system . Between the bullying and the fear, she was absolutely terrified of the school environment. To see her now—proudly and confidently walking through the gates and running off to join her friends—is a transformation that is truly beyond words. It has been a life-changing experience for her and our entire family.
The results speak for themselves:
-Social confidence – She has moved from fear to belonging, forming beautiful bonds with her peers and teachers .
-Academic progress : Her literacy skills are improving daily, proving that children learn best when they feel safe and seen.
-Family impact : This hasn’t just changed things for our daughter; it has been a life-changing experience for our entire family.
The heart of Currambena lies in the profound kindness and respect with which the teachers treat the children. They treat the kids like real people and truly enjoy learning and interacting with them , and you can see the results of that every day. Because she finally feels safe and seen, her literacy skills are improving daily. It is amazing to watch her finally blossom both socially and academically.
Coming from another country, finding your “village” is everything. We have been welcomed with such open arms, and it has meant the world to feel like we truly belong. We’ve loved how the parents are encouraged to be involved. There are so many volunteer opportunities that allow us to stay connected to the community, and the kids absolutely love seeing their parents on campus.
The campus is vibrant and full of heart. If you are looking for a place where your child will be respected and your whole family will feel at home, Currambena is that place.
Amy Basha
Our daughter started at Currambena part way through year 3 and was made to feel welcome and part of the community from her very first day. The teachers are calm and caring and respect the children for the very ones they are. Academics are taught in engaging ways, and independent thinking and life skills are promoted and encouraged. This is a school that values and embraces each and every child and we are grateful we found this very special place.
Charlotte Menzies
My son attended this school from preschool till the end of Wendys! We had eight incredibly happy years here. I say ‘we’ because having a child in this school enriched our whole family. Choosing Currambena was one of the best parenting decisions we’ve made so far. We loved the whole community and especially the magnificent staff.”
Karen Brien
I think the sense of community is wonderful, and something hard to come by elsewhere. I love that respect is fostered between staff and students in both directions.
Stephanie Howes
We love the values and approach to education the school takes. They view each child as an individual and celebrate this.
Jessica Reeve
The school size and having a whole community who know and engage with your child is priceless.
Currambena kids learn from a young age that they matter and they are inherently valued for who they are rather than their achievements. The self-esteem they gain is a life-long gift.”
Joanne Paul
I love that the school is small, fostering a close-knit community where everyone knows and interacts with each other. It’s common to see children of different ages mixing, and we’ve never encountered any issues with bullying.
The community has welcomed our family with open arms. Although my partner was initially sceptical, he has come around and now appreciates the benefits of the school’s philosophy.”
Zoe Erbacher
The transition into Currambena Primary School
Currambena Preschool is located within the Primary School grounds, and preschoolers are an important part of the Currambena community. They are included in many Primary School programs and events, and are already familiar with the Democratic way Currambenal operates. This makes for a seamless transition into Primary School!
* If you want your child to attend Currambena Primary we encourage you to start the journey at Preschool, and provide them the opportunity to build relationships with their peers early on.
Currambena Preschool Fees
Note: Children can attend as few days as 3 days a week. We offer the flexibility for them to build up their number of days at Currambena as they start at Preschool and grow older, or, they can jump right into 5 days a week . We treat each child as an individual.
Interested in enrolling? Want to visit Currambena, tour the school and talk to our teachers?
The Preschool enrolment process begins in August or September of each year for entry into preschool at the start of the following year.
To kickstart the enrolment process, download and complete a Currambena Preschool Waitlist form so we can get to know you and your family a bit better—and then join us at an Information morning to talk with the wonderful Currambena team!
This is an essential chance for you to feel the magic of Currambena first hand before joining us.
